The crime scene was abuzz with activity. News reporters, paramedics, cops. So much was happening, but Jane could only think of one thing: Maura. She watched as Maura walked next to Paddy's gurney to the ambulance. She saw the cold look on Maura's face. She saw the anger in Maura's eyes. It was enough to make Jane want to break down in tears.

Korsak walked over to Jane to check on her.

"I shot my girlfriend's father." Jane dejectedly stated.

"You had no choice." Korsak said.

"Yeah, tell that to Maura."

"Jane, you shot a man who is head of the Irish mob, 20 years on the run, suspected of 15 murders."

"Well, he was nice to her, though." Jane countered.

"Biology doesn't make him her father or mean you stop doing your job."

"Oh, God. She hates me." Jane said as she watched Maura turn away from the ambulance and head her way with ire in her eyes.

"She's just in shock, Jane." Korsak consoled as he turned and walked away to give Jane and Maura some space.

"Take your jacket!" Maura shouted as she threw Jane's jacket at her.

"Maura, come on. I had to. Paddy showed up, and he shot our suspect." Jane pleaded.

"No, he shot the guy who tried to run me over with his car yesterday... put my mother in the hospital."

"Look, we had a handle on it until Paddy crashed our operation."

"Yeah, you had a real handle on it. If he wasn't there, I'd be dead now."

"Really? You think I wouldn't've had your back?"

"He was there to protect me. Something you couldn't even do."

"If that's what you think, you are naïve. Or ignorant. Or I don't know what."

"Well at least I don't play judge and jury and kill people." Maura shot at Jane as she turned and stalked away.

"But your father does! It's okay for him but not for me?! Really, Maura?!" Jane called back, with hurt in her voice.

...

Jane didn't have a lot of time to process what went down between her and Maura. They had caught another case and Internal Affairs was now investigating the team. Jane had to do her job now even though all she actually wanted to do was lock herself in a room with Maura and figure this out. It was painful fighting with her.

Maura was at the hospital waiting for news on Paddy's condition. Her feelings were all jumbled up and she couldn't describe how she felt. She was angry at Jane, but she still loved her. She didn't care about Paddy, but she did. How did she manage to get in this mess?

Angela had come by the hospital to check on Maura. And maybe to try and help smooth things over between her favorite girls. They had just grabbed coffee and were walking back towards the waiting area outside of the operating rooms.

"The way I reacted, Angela, I just bit Jane's head off." Maura said.

"You were afraid for your life." Angela replied.

"No, Paddy wouldn't have shot me." Maura insisted.

"We can't help who we love."

"I don't love Paddy. He's done terrible things. It's just when Jane pulled that trigger, you know, I never really see how they end up on my autopsy table."

"So you were shocked at seeing something so horrible, that's understandable."

"I shouldn't have yelled at Jane. I love her. I care about her more than I have ever cared about anyone." Maura began sobbing. "What if I ruined this? What if she breaks up with me?"

"Oh, Maura. Maura." Angela consoled, as she attempted to hug Maura.

"Please don't." Maura said as she pushed Angela away. "My mother's very reserved. I'm not very good at it either."

"Jane always used to squirm off my lap. You two have that in common." Angela forced a smile.

"You should go home. I'll be fine."

"No, I'm gonna stay here." Concern laced Angela's voice.

"No, I need to be alone. I need time to process. Please. I'll be okay." Maura insisted.

Angela nodded, respected Maura's need for space, and headed out.

...

Not even 15 minutes after Angela had left Jane came running up to Maura at the hospital. Maura had to admit that she was relieved to see Jane. Maybe they could work this out.

"Maura!" Jane shouted as she approached.

"Jane, I'm so glad you're-"

"Don't talk, just listen." Jane interrupted. "We don't have much time. The head of internal affairs is on his way up here to get a statement from you about the shooting."

"That's why you're here? Not to make up or say 'I'm sorry?'"

"Am I sorry that a man who's wanted for 15 murders didn't shoot me or Frost? No, I'm not. I did my job."

"Then why are you here, Jane?"

"To warn you. Maura, please, if you ever loved me, will you please think before you answer the questions you're about to be asked?"

"Detective Rizzoli!" a voice shouted from down the hallway. It was Connors, the IA officer.

"Maura, they're building a case. They think we're dirty. You know that's not true. Please." Jane pleaded.

"Your contempt for the rules borders on criminal. You are talking to a witness!" Connors reprimanded.

"She was just checking up on me." Maura tried to help.

"You were ordered not to talk to each other until our investigation is concluded." Connors scolded.

"She is my girlfriend! How am I supposed to not talk to her?" Jane blatantly stated.

"Detective Rizzoli, leave. If I catch you two together again, I will arrest you for witness tampering." Connors threatened.

Jane rolled her eyes and walked away. She turned around and gave one last look to Maura.

"I know this isn't a good time, but I do have some questions." Maura heard Connors talking to her but her brain wasn't processing it. She was too busy thinking about the fact that Jane called her 'girlfriend'. That's a good sign. Even though she was still angry at Jane, for a multitude of reasons, she didn't want to break up. She didn't want to lose the only thing that made her feel whole.

...

Later that night, Jane was sitting on the couch in their living room, staring at the ceiling, trying to think of some way to fix this. She didn't want to lose Maura. Losing Maura would be the absolute worst thing that could happen.

The door opened and Maura walked in. She shut the door and addressed Jane.

"You shouldn't be here. Not while they're investigating. You heard what Connors said."

"Where do you want me to go? I live here. Besides, how's he gonna know?"

"I'm sure he has his ways."

Maura dropped her bag, kicked of her shoes, and then moved into the kitchen. She hated this – this tense dance they were doing. Not yelling at each other but not acting like themselves either. Maura grabbed a wine glass and a bottle and poured herself a generous glass.

"I don't want to fight anymore." Maura started.

"I don't either. I love you." Jane stood up and made her over to Maura. She leaned her elbows on the counter and stared down. "I – I want you to love me again."

"I never stopped loving you, Jane. I was just- shocked. Angry."

Jane looked up at Maura. "Because I shot your father."

"Yes." Maura stated, matter of factly.

"You know I had to. He would've shot me. And Frost."

Maura looked down at the counter and took a deep breath. She looked back up at Jane. "I know."

Jane looked bewildered. "Then why are you so mad at me?"

"At first, I was shocked and frightened. I wasn't expecting the events that occurred to occur in that way. After some reflection I realized that you were just doing your job. When you came by the hospital, I was ready to apologize and put this behind us., but you hadn't come to apologize. That angered me."

"I am so sorry, Maur. You were mad, I thought you would say something to Connors. You said some pretty harsh things at the crime scene and I should have just trusted you."

"I am sorry I said those things, Jane. I didn't mean them. You always protect me. You always do everything you can to make sure that I am safe and happy." Maura reached across the counter and grabbed one of Jane's hands. "I never doubted that. I was just in shock."

"I said some things too that I'm not proud of. I really thought you were going to break up with me. I was scared."

"I would never break up with you, Jane. I don't think that I could survive without you."

"I feel the same." Jane smiled. "Let's make an agreement. I promise never to shoot one of your family members again and you promise to only be mad at me for the stupid stuff I do."

"Paddy isn't my family, Jane. You are. I'm sorry that I lost sight of that."

"Well, I know a way that you can make it up to me." Jane teased.

"Really?" Maura questioned.

"Oh, yes. That thing that I like..."

"Oh." Maura smirked. "Yes. You do like that thing. I will gladly make it up to you." Maura walked around the counter and grabbed Jane's hand. She led them up the stairs to make up and put this whole fight behind them.

...

The next 24 hours were rough. Jane continued working her cases – and had to tolerate Pike in the process. She hated not being able to talk to Maura but then decided to screw the rules and went to see her anyway. Which ended up getting her kicked off the case and transferred to evidence management. That actually turned out to be good thing because Jane uncovered the evidence needed to find the killer and find Paddy's book – which IA was looking for. Turned out Connors was behind the whole thing. She also managed to uncover some truth about Maura's past.

Now Jane was standing in a cemetery with Maura. The truth was finally out. Maura's past finally brought to life.

Maura was kneeling in front of her grave, sobbing. "I always wondered why she never looked for me."

"Is there anything that I can do?" Jane asked.

"I just want to know why"

"They would have killed you" Jane kneeled down next to Maura and placed her arm around Maura's shoulders. "Paddy saved you. He gave you a life. He gave you to someone he trusted to take care of you. And they did. They got you to me."

Maura looked at Jane. "I don't know what I would do without you." She laid her head on Jane's shoulder and silently cried some more, grieving the life she could have had.